Winding machine



Jime so, 1942.

WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1940 B. BOGOSLOWSKY Sheets-Sheet l INV NTO Maya;

ATTORNEY June 30, 1942.

B. BOGOSLOWSKY WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE T'OR BY- 7 June 30, 1942. a. BQGOSLOWSKY 2,287,860

WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet S II A lllllll lll 1| 21m \q g h F *2 I:

R m; M I L\ :15 1 '11:

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ATTORNEY June 30, 1942. 'o s wsk 2,287,860

, WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1940 Y 7 Sheets-Shet 4 ATTORNEY June 30, 1942. a, BOG-QIDSLOWSKY 2,287,860

WINDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 30, 1940 'I'Sheets-Sheet 5 v L I A 1 a 2 mztufo;

June 30, 1942.

B. BOGOSLOWSKY WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet s" Vl/IiI/IIIIII/A INVENTO 8 Q ,7

ORNEY June so, 1942. g. BOGOSLOWSKY 2,287,860

WINDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 30, 1940 7 Shgetg-Sheet 7 Patented June 30, 1942 WINDING MACHINE Boris Bogoslowsky, New York, N. Y. Application November 30, 1940', Serial No. 367,870

9 Claims.

lhis invention relates to winding of calls by winding a length of strand about a rotating core.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved method of and a machine for winding such a ball and avoiding frictional or sliding movements between the ball and working surfaces supporting the ball. Another object is to provide an improved method of and a machine for giving a ball winding rotation and also giving it components of rotation about other axes at an angle to the winding axis and intersecting it at the geometric center of the ball It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine which is simple in construction and operation and which may be operated at high speed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may appear hereinafter.

One embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with certain parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation partly .in vertical section showing the principal working parts of the machine;

Figure l is a top plan view of the same, partly in horizontal section;

Figure 5 is a left side elevation of the same;

Figure 6 is a section on the line B-$ of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a further enlarged vertical section through the winding heads;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the parts in another position.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 99 of Figure 7.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are vertical sections taken on the line l5ii3 of Figure '1, Figure 10 being partly broken away and showing the ball held between the parts 93 and 9B, Figure 11 showing the parts rotated through 180 with the ball held between the sides forming part of the parts 9A and 9A, and Figure 12 showing an intermediate position with the ball about to be transferred from the parts SA, SA to the parts 9B, 9B; and

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating certain winding steps of the machine.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 and 2), the is supported on a base frame I on which is mounted a motor 2 which furnishes the drive for the machine. On top of the base frame are upright standards 3 in which is journaled for rotation a main drive shaft 4, driven from the motor 2 through pulleys 5 and 6 and a belt 1.

Above the shaft 4 and parallel thereto are two oppositely disposed tubular shafts 8 respectively supporting winding heads 9 and 9' oppositely disposed and adapted to hold therebetween a ball in being wound. The shafts 8 are not only rotatably mounted but also are slidable axially with respect to their supports and are urged to ward one another by means of a dead weight ll acting through suitable toggle mechanism. I'he machine illustrated in Figure 1 has two duplicate counter parts or halves and in the following description only one half will be described in detail.

Referring now to Figures 3 and for a more detailed description of the mechanism, drive shaft t in addition to running in bearings in the standards 3 runs in bearings 56, mounted in a double standard 5 l, 5 la extending upwardly from the frame 3. Secured to the shaft d and mounted between the double standards 5i, Ma is drive gear 52 suitably held from lateral motion with respect to the inner races of the bearings 50 by means of washers 53. Gear 52 meshes with and drives a gear 54 mounted above it. The gear 5 5 is secured as by screws to a sleeve 55 mounted for rotation in bearings 56, supported in the double standards 5!, am. The sleeve 55, thus driven by the gear is sufficiently long axis-wise to give firm support to the tubular shaft 8 which is mounted for sliding movement in the sleeve 55. Rotation of the sleeve 55 drives the shaft 8 through longitudinal keys 5'! mounted in the a shaft and engaging key-ways 58 provided in the sleeve Thus both axial and rotational movement of the shaft 8 is provided for with this construction.

Mounted on the inner end of the shaft 8 and for rotation therewith is a bracket I2 which supports the winding head 9. As previously stated, the core or ball 59 being wound is held between the winding heads 5, 9 by a suitable compressive force suflicient to hold the ball in place between the winding heads and to cause it to turn with them to unwind the elastic strand 13 from its spool it against the frictional resistance applied to the passage of the elastic strand.

To permit this compressive force to be maintained and yet at the same time permit the winding heads to be displaced to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball as successive windings are applied, the tubular shafts 8 are urged toward one another by means of the dead weight M. The weight M is suspended by means of wire links 60 from toothed segments 6I which mesh with each other as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each toothed segment is secured to the end of a lever 62, which in turn is mounted on and secured to a shaft 63 rotatably supported in bearings 64-65 extending from the outer standard 5| of the double standard 5|, 5 Ia.

Referring to Figure 6, secured to and extending upwardly from the shaft 63 are two arms 66 engaging at their upper ends outwardly extending pins 61 set in a central disc 68 concentric with the shaft 8 but free from rotation with respect thereto. This disc 60 forms part of a thrust bearing generally indicated at 69 through which the force of the dead weight II is transmitted to the shaft 8, and includes also end discs I and II rigidly secured to the shaft. Ball bearings support the center disc 68 between the end discs I0 and 'II. With this construction the weight II pulling down on the meshing toothed segments 6| operates through the lever 62, shaft 63, and arms 66 to urge the central disc 68 toward the center of the machine, and this force exerted by the disc 68 is transmitted through the ball bearings to the end disc 'II and so to the shaft 8. The toothed segments 6| serve to keep the heads 9, 9' centrally located with respect to the machine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the strand I3 of material to be wound on the ball is preferably pulled from the supply spool I4 by the rotation of the ball and is led through a forked guide member I2, mounted on the frame I, and located so that its guide slot 13 between the forks is fairly close to the ball. Any suitable strand tensioning device may be employed, as for example, a pulley I4 (Figure 2) interposed between the supply spool and the guide I2, rotation of said pulley being restrained by a brake band I5 having a weight I6 suspended therefrom.

The parts of the machine heretofore described would, without more parts, produce rotation of the ball about a single axis, i. e., the winding axis which is the axis of rotation of the shafts 8, and successive convolutions applied by such rotation, would be superimposed and would extend around the ball in an equatorial plane at right angles to the axis of rotation.

Accordingly, additional means are provided for giving the ball components of rotation about additional axes, each disposed at an angle to the winding axis, but intersecting the winding axis at the center of the ball. For this purpose, the winding heads 9, 6 each comprise two separate parts, each of said parts rotating about separate eccentric axes extending parallel to the winding axis and oppositely disposed with respect thereto. Thus the winding head 9 comprises the parts 9A and 9B, and the head 9' comprises the parts 9A and 9B.

As shown in Figures 9, l0 and 11, the part 9A is in the form of a disc having a notch 90 formed therein, and the part 9B is in the form of a tooth which meshes with the notch 90 in the manner of a gear tooth as the parts rotate on their respective axes. The parts 9A and 9B are duplicates of the parts 9A and 9B, but are oppositely disposed, as shown.

In order to rotate the said part shaft 4 carries a gear 11 which meshes with and drives gear I8 carried on a shaft I9 which is coaxial with and is supported by suitable bearings in the tubular shaft 8. shaft 8 and extends through slot 80 provided in the bracket I2. Mounted on the end of the shaft Shaft I9 is free to rotate within on their respective brackets I2.

I9 and within the slot 30 is a gear BI. This gear meshes with and drives a gear 82 mounted on eccentric shaft 83 journaled in the bracket I2 and on which is mounted the part 9A.

The gear BI also meshes with and drives idler gear 84 mounted on shaft 85 journaled in the bracket I2, and the idler gear in turn meshes with and drives a gear 86 mounted on accentric shaft 81 also journaled in the bracket I2. Shaft 81 carries the part 93.

It will be observed that the axes of rotation of parts 9A and 9A, i. e., the axes of shafts 83, are offset from the axis of rotation of shaft 8, and that the amount of offset is equal but in diametrically opposite directions. Likewise, it will be observed that the axes of rotation of parts 93 and 93, i. e., the axes of shafts 81, are offset from the axis of rotation of shaft 8 in equal but in diametrically opposite directions. Also, it will be observed that the axes of rotation of shafts 83 and the axes of rotation of shafts 8! are offset equal distances from the axis of rotation of shaft 8. Finally it will be observed that the brackets I2 rotate in the same direction on shafts 8, the parts 9A and 9A rotate in the same direction on brackets I2, the parts 9B and 9B rotate in the same direction on brackets I2, but the parts 9A and 9B rotate in opposite directions and the parts 9A and 9B rotate in opposite directions.

Mounted on the discs 9A and 9A and forming a part of the working surfaces thereof are slides ml which extend radially from a point near the center of rotation of the disc to a point slightly beyond the periphery of the disc, the peripheral edges I 02 of the slides serving as cams to actuate the slides for purposes hereinafter described. The said slides work in grooves formed in the discs 9A, 9A and are urged outwardly by springs I03 which press against pins I04 projecting into slots I05. The slides are held in place in their grooves in any suitable manner, as by cotter pins I06 on shafts 83.

In describing the operation of the machine, the operation of said slides will be disregarded for the moment, and it will be assumed that said slides remain stationary relative to the discs and merely form part of the working surfaces there- Of.

In order to understand the winding operation, let it be assumed that a core or ball has been placed between the winding heads in position such that the axis of shaft 8 passes through the center of the ball. Let it also be assumed that the position of the parts is such that the ball is held between the working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A (Figure 11). If the shaft 4 is now driven, the shafts 8 are also driven due to the meshing of gears 52, 54, thus rotating the winding heads 9, 9' about the axis of shafts 8, and, of course, rotating the ball about the same axis. At the same time, however, shafts I9 are driven due to the meshing of gears 11, 18, and this causes rotation of parts 9A, 9A, 9B and 9B Since the ball is held between the working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A, the rotation of these parts on their respective axes causes the ball to roll along the working surfaces in an arcuate path indicated by the dotted line 9 I, thus rotating the ball about a second axis'x-w (Figure 13) which is obliquely arranged with respect to the first axis of rotation of the ball (axis of shaft 8) but intersecting the first axis at the center of the ball. The amount of the obliqueness depends on the diam eter of the ball and the amount of eccentric displacement of the shafts 82 from the winding axis.

The covering rotation of the ball about the axis :rx combined with the winding rotation about the winding axis, causes the strand to Wind on the ball a series of convolutions that form a belt 92 around the ball. The belt is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 13. This method of winding has the advantage of distributing about circles 93 the points of crossing of the successively wound convolutions 94.

The Width of the belt 92 can be varied by varying the spacing of the axes 82 from the shaft 8. Further, the spacing between succeeding convolutions 95 can be varied by varying the relationship between the number of winding revolutions per covering revolution of the ball as produced by the eccentric rotations of the winding heads. Preferably the relationship is such as would cover the ball, i. e., complete the belt 92, as rapidly as desired without producing such wide spacing of the convolutions as will introduce forces that would cause the strand to slip off the surface of the ball. This relationship, i. e., the number of winding revolutions per covering revolution, is, of course, determined by the speed of rotation of the shafts 8 and the speed with which the parts 9A and 9A cause the ball to rotate. This latter speed is determined by the speed of eccentric rotation of the parts 9A and 3A and by the distance separating the eccentric axes of the winding heads and by the diameter of the ball.

In the present embodiment, for example, these relationships are chosen so that the parts 9A and 9A make one revolution for each twenty revolutions of the shafts 8.

As the winding operation proceeds with the ball still held between the parts 9A and 9A, it will be obvious that continued rotation of the parts 9A and SA on the bracket [2 will eventually cause the parts to reach a position (Figure 12) such that the ball rolls off of the working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A and is transferred onto the working surfaces of the parts SB and 9B. As the winding operation continues, therefore, the ball is held between the working surfaces of the parts 93 and 9B (Figures 7 and 10), and rotation of these parts on their respective axes, causes the ball to roll along the working surfaces of these parts in an arouate path indicated by the dotted line 96. This action rotates the ball about a third axis yy (Figure 13 which is also obliquely arranged with respect to the first axis of rotation of the ball (axis of shaft 8) but also intersecting the first axis at the center of the ball. Axis y-U is oppositely disposed to axis :ca:, however.

It will be apparent that when the ball is transferred from the surfaces of the parts 9A, 9A to the surfaces of the parts 98, 9B, the covering rotation of the ball about the axis y-y, combined with the winding rotation about the first winding axis, will initiate the winding of another series of convolutions in the form of a belt of the same nature as the belt 92, but, due to the shifting of the axis of rotation from :v$ to yy, the new belt is angularly disposed to and crosses the preceding belt and covers the areas left uncovered in winding the preceding belt.

As the winding operation continues the ball will eventually roll off of the surfaces 93 and 9B and will be retransferred onto the surfaces 9A and 5A, at which time covering rotation on the axis x-a: will be resumed, and a new belt of convolutions will be initiated.

In the machine illustrated in the drawings, the working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A are much larger than the working surfaces of the parts 93 and 9B, and the arc 9| is much longer than the are 96. As a result, the number of convolutions wound on the ball while it is being rotated on the axis :B-x far exceeds the number of convolutions wound on the ball while it is being rotated on the axis yy. This relationship has been found satisfactory to produce balls having substantially perfect spherical sliapes, but it will be understood that the relationship may be varied considerably and still produce satisfactory results.

In this connection, it will be understood that when the axis of covering rotation shifts from ac-x to y-y, and then shifts back again to a:r, the new axis ac-ar will not be coincident with the old axis :c--a:. Consequently, the new belt of convolutions wound while the ball is rotating on the new axis .r:c will not only be angularly disposed to and cross the belt wound while the ball was rotating on the yy axis, but also will be angularly disposed to the belt wound while the ball was rotating on the old :I3:r axis.

Returning now to the operation of the slides I9 I, it will be observed that as the parts approach the position illustrated in Figures 8 and 11, the engagement of the projecting cam edges I92 with the hubs of the parts 9B, 913 causes the slides to move radially inwardly. Since the ball is held between the working surfaces of the slides during this movement, a fourth component of rotary motion is given to the ball, which said rotary motion is about the axis z-z (Figure 11). As the parts move beyond the position illustrated in Figures 8 and 11, the cam edges move out of engagement with the hubs, and the slides are returned to normal position by the springs m3. By this time, however, the ball has moved off of the surfaces of the slides and is again held between the surfaces oi: the discs, so that the return movement of the slides does not affect the ball.

The effect of this rotary motion is to change slightly the direction of the convolutions forming the belt 92, so that the final convolutions of the belt (i. e. those applied subsequent to the ro tation on the axis z2) are offset slightly from the positions which they would otherwise have occupied. In other words, the direction of the belt is angularly displaced at the time when the rotation on the axis zz takes place.

Such angular displacement is not illustrated in Figure 13 because the position of the parts shown therein is such that the rotation on the axis e-z has just been completed, and it is in the subsequent windings that the displacement would appear. Moreover, the displacement is so slight as to be difficult to illustrate accurately. Nevertheless, slight as it is, such displacement has been found to materially improve the winding of a ball b improving the uniformity of coverage over the entire surface of the ball.

In this connection, it will be understood that in winding balls, a substantially spherical ball may be produced even if the coverage is not uniform, because the pressure of the excess windings which may be present in one zone tends to compress the underlying windings in that zone and to thrust outwardly the windings of an adjacent zone where less windings are applied. As a result, however, even though the ball may be perfectly spherical, the hardness of the ball may vary considerably at different points on the surface of the ball, being harder at points where excess windings (i. e. excess coverage) have been applied. According to the present invention, the more uniform coverage secured results in more uniform hardness, which, of course, results in im proved performance of the ball in use.

The four components of rotary motion are given to the ball without introducing any friction or sliding movement between the ball and the supporting surfaces of the winding heads. One of said components, 1. e. that on the axis of shaft 8 is continuous, while two of the other components, i. e. those about the axes :ca: and yy are intermittent and alternating. The component about the axis z2 is intermittent and takes place while rotation on the axis ma: is also taking place, i. e. concurrently therewith. It will be observed, however, that rotation on the axis 93-30 is always in the same direction, that rotation on the axis 11-1 is always in the same direction, and that rotation on the axis 2-2 is always in the same direction. It will also be observed that the ball is always rotated freely, without friction.

Preferably the working surfaces of the parts 9A, 9A, 9B and 9B are provided with shallow grooves 91, 98, concentric with the axes of the respective parts, with the deepest part of the grooves coinciding with the paths of rotation 9| and 96 respectively. The radius of curvature of the grooves should be greater than the maximum radius of the ball to be wound so that normally the ball is in contact with only the bottom portion of the groove. While such grooves are not essential to the successful operation of the machine, they are useful in assisting in retaining the ball in proper winding position under all conditions and particularly when the machine is operated at very high speed.

If desired, the working surfaces of the winding heads may be covered with a thin layer of rubber 99 in order to grip the ball more firmly and to prevent slippage.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis to impart winding rotation to the ball about said axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, said pairs of parts being adapted to impart to the ball additional components of rotation about two additional axes inclined to said first named axis, and means carried by one of the parts of each of said pairs and movable relative thereto for imparting to the ball an additional component of rotation about an additional axis perpendicular to said first named axis.

2. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding. heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis to impart winding rotation to the ball about said axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, said pairs of parts being adapted to impart to the ball additional components of rotation about two additional axes inclined to said first named axis, and a slide carried by one of the parts of each of said pairs and movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said part to impart to the ball an additional component of rotation about an additional axis perpendicular to said first named axis.

3. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, one of the parts of each of said pairs having a radially movable slide forming part of its working surface.

4. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, one of the parts of each of said pairs having a radially movable slide forming part of its working surface, and means for moving said slides simultaneously while the ball is held therebetween.

5. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, one of the parts of each of said pairs having a radially movable slide forming part of its working surface, means for moving said slides simutaneously while the ball is held therebetween, and means for returning said slides after the ball is no longer held therebetween.

6. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising rotating said body about a winding axis while held between two oppositely disposed winding heads, each of said Winding heads comprising three relatively movable parts, transferring said body successively from one pair of opposed parts to another pair of opposed parts, then to a third pair of opposed parts, while continuing the rotation of said body on the winding axis, and imparting additional components of rotation to said body on three different axes each intersecting said winding axis at the center of the body by producing relative movement of each of said pairs of parts while the body is held therebetween.

7. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising rotating said body about a winding axis while held between two oppositely disposed winding heads, each of said winding heads comprising three relatively movable parts, and transferring said body successively from one pair of opposed parts to another pair of opposed parts, then to a third pair of opposed parts, while continuing the rotation of said body on the winding axis, and moving said parts to rotate said body on threedifferent axes intersecting the winding axis at the center of the ball.

8. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising continuously rotating said body about a winding axis, and intermittently imparting to said body additional components of rotation on three additional axes intersecting the winding axis at the center of the ball, the additional components on two of said additional axes being imparted alternately, and the additional components on the third of said additional axes being imparted concurrently with the additional component on one of the other additional axes.

9. The method of winding a strand to form two of said additional axes being inclined to said winding axis, and the third additional axis being perpendicular to said winding axis, all of said additional axes intersecting said winding axis, the additional components on said inclined axes being imparted alternately, and the additional component on said perpendicular axis being imparted concurrently with the additional component on one of said inclined axes.

BORIS BOGOSLOWSKY. 

